'Tis the season to make the most of this beautiful weather. Kids love crafts year-round but there are so many outdoor craft opportunities, we've picked some of our favourites to share with you. We hope you and your little ones enjoy!
Bean bag toss
You can get as crafty with this one as you wish. From making your own bean bags and score markers to using supplies you might already have laying around the house. The scoring is flexible, too. Your kids will have a blast racking up the points!
Key wind chime
This is another one where you can get as crafty as you like! Try some patterns on the keys, different colours of string and intricate painting on the hanger. Or stick to the basics. This craft is fun and easy and will look great in your yard all summer long.
Happy feet
What do you do with all of the rocks the kids collected at the beach? Make happy feet, of course! Put that rock collection to good use!
Garden flare
Recycled crafts are some of our favourites. Have your kids help you in the garden by making some garden accessories out of old cans. Mom or dad will have to help because the edges can be sharp, but they'll add a little unexpected colour to your garden!
Back yard Twister
This is perhaps our most favourite crafty way to use your outdoor space of them all. Turn your yard into a Twister board and keep the kids busy for hours!
Want to have a cool place for your kids and their friends to play? Build them a treehouse and you'll be the talk of the neighbourhood! It might be a big time investment up front, but your kids will spend so many hours in their new pad, it will be worth every minute you invest.
Below, we have found three designs for treehouses that might just be your little ones' new favourite place to play:
Backyard Treehouse
This basic treehouse will keep your kids busy all summer long. From tea parties, to picnics and maybe the occasional sleepover, it will be a hit! Detailed instructions can be found here.Basic TreehouseThis particular design requires a somewhat specific tree layout, but if you have the right branches then this is the perfect addition to your back yard. Detailed instructions can be found here.Building on a budgetThis family wanted a treehouse but had a very tight budget to work with. Find out how they built a treehouse for under $300 here.
Did you or one of your friends have a treehouse when you were a kid? If so, you'll remember just how much fun you had playing house in a building of your very own. If your kids are too young, keep this in mind, they'll appreciate it someday! For more treehouse inspiration, visit our Pinterest board.
Mother's Day is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with some family activities? Whether you're playing with the kids, making crafts, or enjoying a nice dinner, family should be at the heart of every Mother's Day. Here are some ideas of how to spend this special holiday:
Family Brunch
There's nothing better than starting your Mother's Day with a family breakfast. Make something both the kids AND the grown-ups will enjoy :)
Plant some flowers:
And watch them grow all summer long!
Family Walk
Sometimes something as simple as a family stroll can make Mother's Day a day to remember. Get out there, enjoy the fresh air, and kick off the Spring season on the right foot!
How do YOU celebrate Mother's Day?
Here at Along Came Baby, we like to give back as much as we can. One of the charities we value the most is the SickKids Hospital. They're doing so many important things to improve the lives of children in need. That's why this week, we've decided to give 5% of all sales to SickKids. They've done so much for others, it's time to do something for them.
When Tokidoki releases a new pattern, we get excited. REALLY excited. This time's no different. The new Animalini print is one of our favourites. This print comes in 10 different styles and you're going to need to add this to your collection.
Check it out here.
School, work, music lessons, sports, friends. They're all important, but they're all things that make us busy. When we're too busy, one of the first things we neglect is FAMILY TIME. Family time is important and here are a few reasons why:
Build a Stronger Bond
What better way to build a stronger bond with your family than spending time with them doing things you love? From playing in the park, to craft time to family dinners, it's important to get to know the ones you love the most. If you realize your family is beginning to drift apart because your schedules are too busy, recognize it. And fix it, right away.
Teach Your Children Valuable Lessons
Game night can teach valuable lessons like sharing and taking turns. Family dinners can teach things like the importance of chores and kindness. The more time your kids spend with the most influential people in their lives (the parents), the easier it is to instil good values and manners in them from an early age.
To Know What's Going On
What did your kid do at school? At the babysitter's? Taking time to ask questions and have a conversation with your little ones can open your eyes to a whole world of things. Just chatting with your kids can give you an idea of what their friends are like and how they act when you're not around without seeming too pushy.
Because Family is Fun!
Your family is the most cherished and important thing in your entire life. You want to get to know them the best you can. You want to love them and for them to love you back. You want to be able to relax and have a good time! Spend as much time with your family as you can because these moments will be some of the most cherished memories for the rest of your life. And theirs.
Valentine's Day is a day for special moments, love, and--best of all--CRAFTS! The possibilities are endless, but we picked some of our favourites from Pinterest. Any of these will make Valentine's Day fun for the whole family. And make sure to spend some alone parent time together after the crafts are made and the kids are in bed.
Candy Kiss RingThis is one of the cutest Valentine's Day crafts we've seen. Your little one will feel so special when mommy and daddy give them their very first ring. They'll feel even more special when they realize it's made of chocolate!
Heart Garland
This craft is easy, fast and mess-free. Plus it looks great and you can decorate pretty much anything with it! We're in love with this heart garland.
Lollipop Lips
If your little one is old enough for lollipops, then jazz them up a bit for Valentine's Day. Too cute!
Valentine
Adding a personal touch to your valentines will make them that much more special. Whether they're hand-written or a bit more creative like this one with little footprints and hand prints, we're sure the personal touch will go a long way.
Tic Tac Toe
Aside from a personal touch, another way to ramp up the love in your valentines cards is to make them an activity in themselves. We love this idea. You can play until the tic tacs are gone!
For more fun craft and activity ideas, check out our Pinterest boards.
Planning a birthday party can be a stressful time for anyone, especially if you have a kid in the family. Here are a few ways to manage birthday stress to make this year painless for everyone involved.
Plan ahead
Planning ahead is easier said than done. This year, make sure you stick to your plans. Write out your grocery list, send out invites and get those gifts wrapped early! Plan your games well in advance and keep tabs on the stories your kids come home with from other birthday parties. Good ideas can be borrowed! You'll thank yourself come party time.
Buy gifts early
We suggest stocking up on gifts throughout the year. Birthday parties can be expensive and buying gifts that make you think of your loved ones throughout the year can be a great way to make sure you don't break the bank when it comes to party day. Plus, the gifts will be more thoughtful and inspired and you won't have the stress of last-minute shopping.
Relax
Take some time to relax. You might end up with a go, go, go attitude but if you spend some time chilling out, you'll have a better day and so will all the little ones.
And if you need party inspiration, check out our Pinterest page for crafts, recipes and more!
Is the cold getting you down? Want to stay in with your little ones and tackle some seasonal crafts? We have put together a list of our favourite crafts to make winter not so bad!
Melty Snowman
This craft gives us hope that Spring is just around the corner. And it's super cute to boot!
Reindeer Crown
Have your kids and their friends make a reindeer crown and they'll be pretending they're reindeer until the robins appear!
Snowman Mobile
Give your kids' bedrooms a bit of winter flare with this snowman mobile. And have them brainstorm what kind of Spring mobiles they can make when it starts to warm up outside.
Snackable Snowman
This craft doubles as a tasty snack! Everyone wins!
Popsicle Stick Snowman
Make this snowman now and use him as a winter decoration next year. You can even hang him on you Christmas tree!
Penguin Hands
Winter's not all just about snowmen. These penguins can be a bit messy, but your kids are going to LOVE getting their hands dirty in the name of art.
For more great winter craft ideas, check out our winter craft Pinterest board.
Christmas traditions can be passed along from generation to generation and can be quite meaningful to all of those who are involved. Whether your kids realize it or not at the time, Christmas traditions will be something that they will grow to cherish over time. Carrying on longstanding Christmas traditions is important, but creating your own as a young family can be fun as well. Here are some of our favourite Christmas traditions:
Decorating the tree
This one may be obvious, but it is an important one! Some kids LOVE decorating the tree, others may take a bit more convincing. Deck the living room out with festive snacks, put on some holiday tunes and make this something they look forward to every year.
Decorating cookies
This is something that the whole family can get in on. Let your creativity shine!
Christmas Eve family dinner
One of our favourite traditions. Get the extended family together for an annual feast. And hopefully your kids will carry this tradition on for years to come.
Christmas Song Singalong
Christmas songs are fun for everyone from babies to grandparents. Sing them at family gatherings, in the car or as lullabies. It will get everyone in the Christmas spirit.
The Night Before Christmas
If you read this classic to your kids as they fall asleep when they are younger, they can help out as they learn to read and someday maybe even take over the reading entirely. This is something that the youngest of children will enjoy.
Traditions are important to our holiday celebrations. What are some of your favourite traditions?
There are many reasons why we would rather buy organic toys for our children and as gifts. Here are our top 5:
1. Good for the Earth
Organic toys are generally made in a way that is sustainable for the Earth. By buying organic toys, you are helping to protect the planet your children and grandchildren will be growing up on long after you are gone. Teaching them about protecting the Earth from birth will help teach them to care more for the planet we all call home.
2. Good for Your Baby
There are so many chemicals used in the toys many of us let our babies play with that it can be quite scary and overwhelming. Which ones are safe? Which ones are dangerous? We take care with what they eat, we should also pay close attention to the toys they play with. Buying organic toys will let your mind be at ease and give you one less danger of the modern world to worry about.
3. Accessible
Believe it or not, organic toys are NOT hard to find. And contrary to popular belief, they will NOT cost you an arm and a leg. Dandelion toys are a great example of a fair price point for a great organic product. They're one of our favourite organic toys on the market. Many stores, like us, strive to carry the best in organic toys for your children. If you look for organic toys, you'll see they aren't too hard to find.
4. Variety
In addition to being easily accessible and reasonably priced, organic toys come in all shapes and sizes and are FUN for your children! At Along Came Baby, we have everything from Haba plush animals and building blocks to Dandelion's rattles. Organic toys often stimulate children's minds more than other toys because the people who make organic toys inherently care more for the wellbeing of your child and want to stimulate their minds in every way possible.
Looking for a stellar gift for some little ones this holiday season? Not sure what to get them? We've got you covered! Whether you're shopping for your own kids or your friends' children, we have picked out of our favourite gifts to inspire your otherwise difficult Christmas shopping trip.
Sophie the Giraffe
A no-brainer. Every kid should have their very own Sophie, and this time of year is the perfect time to gift it to ANY child. We promise, they're going to LOVE Sophie!
Dandelion, Earth-Friendly Goods
Give the children in your life a special pal for Christmas. Ice Blue Plush Bear is the perfect organic friend for any little guy or girl!
The ultimate building blocks
If you're going to splurge on something big this year, make sure it's this set of Haba building blocks. Totally baby-friendly, non-toxic and sturdy, these blocks will keep your baby happy for hours!